Mouthpiece and method of making the same for wind instruments



July 22, 1930. w. H. GRANT 1,771,217

MOUTHPIECB AND METHOD OF KING THE SAME FOR W'INP INSTRUIENTS Filed a u 16, 1925 Patented July 22, 1930 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. GRANT, OI ELKHORN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK HOLTON 8t (10.,

OF ELKI-IORN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS HOUTHPIECE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Application filed April 16, 1925. Serial No. 23,512.

This invention relates to mouthpieces for wind instruments, and especially reed instruments, such as saxophones and clarinets.

The invention has for its object the provision of a mouthpiece which shall be of improved construction and operation, together with a novel process for manufacturing the mouthpiece which makes it possible to construct a device'embodying the present invention and which greatly facilitates the manufacture and reduces the cost thereof.

The invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing and described in 16 the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one step in the process of manufacturing the mouthpiece;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the metallic lining of the mouthpiece,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the lining; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the completed mouthpiece.

Mouthpieces for saxophones, clarinets and other reed wind instruments for best results should have an enlarged portion within the central opening or tone chamber. This opening should have gradually tapered sides and should be free from abrupt projections.

Heretofore metal base saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces have been made largely by hand and the interior of the chamber carefully shaped in each. individual instance.

This, of course, is an expensive operation and depends for its success upon the skill of the artisan. It is also impossible bv operations of this kind to secure uniformity in the results. Or they have been die casted in two pieces of white metal which discolors by contact with saliva, are heavier in weight than saxophone and clarinet mouthpieces made of other material and the soft metal does not always withstand the pressure of the resses used in putting on the covering material and crush or change the inner proportions of the mouthpiece. thereby affecting the playing qualities. The present invention avoids the 50 necessity of hand shaping of the interior of the mouthpiece or of making it of two pieces and makes it possible to use German silver or other similar material which does not discolor by contact with saliva and is a stronger metal than is commonly used in die casting and to make the mouthpiece lighter and more rigid by making it of one'piece of tubing and to utilize an economical metal Working process for shaping the interior of the mouthpiece while permittng the exterior to be covered with a non-metallic material so as to give the desired appearance and avoid the necessity for the musician to hold a metal piece next to the lips.

In manufacturing the mouthpiece a metal lining or shell is first provided, the interior of the shellbeing given the proper contour by the expansion of a metal tube into a mold or form. In the finished product the metal shell is covered with a non-metallic material and for this purpose it has been discovered that phenolic condensate such as that sold on the market under the trade name Bakelite has many properties which add greatly to the value of the mouthpiece. This material is formed about the metal base under high pressure and at a temperature of approximately 350 Fahrenheit. The advantages of this material for a wind instrument mouthpiece are many. It will not warp or contract when exposed to changes in tem' perature as does hard rubber or other materials heretofore used. Phenolic condensate products have no taste or odor as does rubber. It is easily finished, takes a very high polish, and can be had in different colors. It is a harder substance than rubber and when used on a mouthpiece will not show marks of the teeth. It is more durable than rubber and will not crack or break when dropped.

In forming the metal insert a tube of suitable material, either open at one end or open at both ends, such as German silver, is inserted in a split mold indicated diagrammatically at 10 in Fig. 1. The tube 11 is flattened at its end in order that it may be inserted into a mold of proper shape. The mold 10 is given a bulge at- 12 so that when the walls of the tube are forced outwardly it will assume the proper shape to give the best results. The tube is then expanded by internal pressure. An economical and efficient method for exerting the pressure within the interior of the tube is to insert a soft rubber rod into the tube and then exert sufficient pressure on the end of the rod to cause the wall of the tube to assume the shape of the interior of the mold. This expanding operation may also be done by filling said tube with any liquid of the correct consistency and exerting pressure on the same directly or ly means of an immersed plunger. The top wall 13 of the mold will provide clearance to allow a portion of the tube to be cut off approximately on line 14 after the tube has been expanded. This will leave a laterally dLected opening at one side of the lining member. A metal plate 15 having an opening 16 thortthrough is brazed in place on the lining 17, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. A spacer block 18 is preferably brazed into place between the rearwardly 1 rejecting portion of the plate 15 and the cylindrical portion of the tube 1 The plate 15 has its edges turned down, as shown at 19. to provide an abutment for the edges of the phenolic condensate cover. A stop ring 20 may be soldered or brazed to the tube 11 and the projecting end of the tube may or may not be provided with slots 21 and 22 and with lugs 23 and screw 24 for clamping the mouthpiece in place on the saxophone stem 25. This will permit the mouthpiece to be adjusted longitudinally of the stem to vary the pitch of the instrumentfor tuning. After the plate 15 and spacing block 18 and flange 20 have been secured in place the phenolic condensate covering 26 is formed about the metal base and registers with the interior edge of the flange 19 which extends along one end of the plate 15 and along the two longitudinal .ides. This leaves the plate 15 exposed to form a seat for the reed 27 which is secured in place by the usual clamping ring 28.

The method of manufacture insures absolute uniformity and produces a mouthpiece which is of superior quality and appearance and one which can be manufactured at great reduction in cost.

I claim 1. A mouthpiece for wind instruments comprising a unitary tubular metal lining having a cavity therein bulged outwardly between the ends thereof, and a phenolic condensate covering permanently molded upon the outer surface of said lining.

2. A tubular metal lining for a wind musical instrumen mouthpiece having a portion intermediate the ends thereof bulged outwardly to form a tone cavity, said lining having a laterally directed opening at one side of said cavity and a cover plate having an opening therethrough secured to said lining and registering with the laterally directed opening therein.

3. A metal base member for a saxophone mouthpiece comprising a metal tube having a substantially cylindrical portion, said tube being bulged outwardly at the end of said cylindrical portion, the wall of said tube being bent inwardly at the side of said bulged portion away from said cylindrical portion to form an inclined wall at one end of said base member.

4. In a mouthpiece for wind instruments, a unitary metal tubular member having a substantially cylindrical portion, the walls of said member being bulged outwardly at one end of said cylindrical portion and then bent inwardly at one side to provide a tapering end wall for said mouthpiece, said tubular member having a laterally directed opening at the side thereof opposite said tapering end wall.

5. In a mouthpiece for wind instruments, tubular metal member having a substantially cylindrical portion, said member being bulged outwardly at one end of said cylindrical portion, the wall of said member being bent inwardly to form an inclined end wall opposite said cylindrical portion, there being a laterally directed opening at one side of said tubular member, and a metal plate secured to said tubular member and having an opening therethrough registering with the opening in said tubular member.

6. The method of forming a mouthpiece for wind instruments comprising the steps of expanding a sheet or drawn metal tube to provide a mouthpiece lining and completing the mouthpiece by covering said lining with a. non-metallic material.

7. The method of forming a mouthpiece for wind instruments comprising the steps of expanding a tubular metal base member by exerting pressure within said member while said member is enclosed in a form, removing said expanded member from the form, moldin a covering of plastic material about said member and permitting the covering to harden.

8. The method of forming a mouthpiece for wind instruments having an internal enlargement therein wherein a metal tube is placed within a. form and subjected to internal pressure to cause said tube to conform to the shape of said form after which a metal plate is attached to one side of said tube to register with the lateral opening therein, and then moulding a covering of non-metallic material upon said tube.

9. A mouthpiece for a musical instrument comprising a metal lining and a covering of non-metallic material, said metal lining having a tubular portion projecting beyond said non-metallic covering and provided with a clamping ring formed integral with said metal lining for retaining said mouthpiece in adjusted positions upon the tubular end portion of a musical instrument, means for contracting said ring to clamp said ring on the instrument.

10. The process of manufacturing a wind instrument mouthpiece comprising the steps of shaping a tubular metal lining member to form a tone cavity within said lining mem ber, molding a covering of plastic material on the outer surface of said lining member, and permitting said covering to harden.

11. The process of manufacturing a mouthpiece for wind instruments having a tone cavity provided with an enlarged portion between the ends thereof, comprising the steps of expanding a tubular metal member to form within said member a cavity of the required shape, molding a cover of phenolic condensate upon the outer surface of said expanded member and permitting said cover to harden.

12. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments, comprising a unitary metal lining having a plate permanently secured to the top thereof providing a seat for a reed, a covering of non-metallic material permanently moulded upon the outer surface of said lining but exposing the top of said plate and said plate having its edges turned downwardly to serve as an abutment for the edges of said covering.

13. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments, comprising a tubular lining of metal bulged outwardly between the ends thereof to provide a tone cavity, a plate permanently secured to the top of said lining providing a seat for a reed, a covering of non-metallic material permanently moulded upon the outer surface of said lining but exposing the top of said plate and said plate having its edges turned downwardly to serve as an abutment for the edges of said covering.

14. A mouthpiece for wind musical instruments, comprising a tubular metal member having a substantially cylindrical portion, said member being bulged outwardly at one end of said cylindrical portion, the wall of the member being bent inwardly to form an inclined end wall opposite said cylindrical portion, there being a laterally directed opening at one side of said tubular member, a plate secured to said tubular member having an opening therethrough registering with the opening in said tubular member, a covering of non-metallic material permanently moulded upon the outer surface of said tubular metal member and said plate having its edges turned downwardly to serve as an abutment for the edges of said covering.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 13th day of April, A. D. 1925.

WILLIAM H. GRANT. 

